Egg washing and rinsing machine.



APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1914.

Patented 0015.13, 1,911

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Attorneys .Y ffm.. dm m f .M1 f NR. Y l A M 5M y u N Nwx V, N\k b MN. .QS l \l W. A. BRANDT. EGG WASHNG AND RNSING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 1a. 1914.

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Inventor 1, f 3X y l l n Attorneys 50 rotary brushes retracted from the other UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. BRANDT, oF IIEAL'DSBURG, CALIFORNIA.

EGG WASHING'AND RIN SIN G MACHINE.

Specification ot Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

Application led Iay 18, 1914. Serial No. 889,379.

u embodying a unique assemblage of component parts, and operable in a practical manner, for the purposes intended.

As a more vspecific object, the present invention vaims to provide in a machine of ,o the nature indicated, means for thoroughly brushing or .scrubbing the eggs and simultaneously applying water and washing powder thereto, then vautomatically dropping the successive eggs into a rinsing tank, and

then conducting or elevating the eggs out of the rinsing tank to be placed upon a drying table, or the like.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent as the descripam tion proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein' disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from thespirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figulel is' a side elevation of the improved machine, portions being broken away. Fig. 2is an elevation taken from the opposite side, portions being broken away.

i5 Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine, parts being shown in section, and the section being taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2J Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, and illustratingone of the rotary brush, for releasing the egg. i

In carrying out the present invention, there is provided a suitable frame 1, between the sides of which is hung or supported a reservoir 2, which has its bottom inclined motor 12 mounted over from'one end of the frame 1 to the other, the rmsmgtank 2 being preferably transversely concaved. The tank 2 is provided at its deepest end, with an upright portionv 3 4within which the elevator operates, as will hereinafter appear inl detail. portion 3 at one end of the tank 2 is disposed between the corresponding end portions of the sides of the frame 1,.and the bottom of the tank 2 is inclined from the portion 3 to the other end of the frame.

The upright The brushing or scrubbing device for p.

washing or cleaning the eggs, includes a transverse shaft 4 journaled through bearings or pillow blocks 45 secured upon the sides of the frame 1 above the intermediate portion of the tank 2, a circular brush 6 bei` ing secured or keyed portion of the shaft 4. A second circular brush 7, which coperates with the brush 6,

1s keyed or secured upon a transverse shaft 8 journaled through boxes or bearings 9 slidable longitudinally within guides 10 mounted upon the sides of the frame 1 adjacent one end of the frame. The boxes or bearings 9 are slidabledongitudinally to and from the shaft 4, to carry the shaft 8 and its brush 7 longitudinally into and out of coperative relation with the brush 6. The bristles 11 of the brushes 6 and 7 are provided with annular or circumferential grooves or channels, as most clearly seen in Fig. 3. This enables to the curvature of the sides of the egg held between the said brushes' with its major axis disposed transversely of the machine, as

seen in Fig. 3.

As a mechanism for actuating the brushes 6 and 7, there is provided a prime mover, which is preferably in the form of a water that end portion of the frame 1 remote from the guldes 10, a water supply pipe 13 being connected to the motor 12, and the outlet or exhaust pipe 14 of the motor depending into the upright portion 3 of the rinsing tank 2, whereby the exhaust Water of the motor will be discharged into the rinsing tank to be utilized for rinsing the eggs, and for continually supplying fresh water to the rinsing tank.

The rotor shaft 1 5 of the water motor 12 has a relatively small sprocket. wheel 16 keyed or secured thereon, which sprocket wheel has 'an endless sprocket chainy 17 trained thereover, an\d the said sprocket upon the intermediate the bristles to conform ua y brush shaft 4, notwithstanding 19 and 20, and has its upper run .sprocket wheels 19, 2O and chainr is trained over a relatively large sprocket wheel 18 keyed or secured upon the corresponding end of the brush shaft 4. Thus, the motor 12 will drive the brushshaft 4 directly, and in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1.

The brush 7 is operated from the brushv shaft 4, there being a flexible connection between the brush shafts 4 and 8. To this end, a relatively small'sprocketwheel19 is keyed or secured upon the brush shaft 4 between the sprocket wheel 18 and the corresponding bearing 5, and a relatively small sprocket wheel 20 is keyed or secured upon the corresponding end of the brush shaft 8. An idler sprocket wheel 21 is mounted for rotary and vertically slidable movements within anupright guide 22 mounted upon the corresponding side of the frame 1 between the shafts 4 and 8, the idler sprocket wheel 21 being yieldably or spring-depressed in any suitable manner. An endless sprocket chain 23 is trained over the sprocket lwheels trained under the idler sprocket wheel 21. The lower run of the sprocket chain 23 between the sprocket wheels 19 and 2O is trained around or under a sprocket wheel 24 keyed to one end of a transverse counter shaft 25 journaled through the frame 1 below the shallow end of the tank 2. The idler sprocket 21 being yieldably depressed, will normally 'hold the sprocket chain 23 taut, whereby the sprocket chain will be maintained in operative engagement with the 24. The idler 21 will also enable the shaft 8 carrying the rotary brush 7, to move longitudinally away from and toward the brush shaft 4. Thus when the bearings or slides 9 are moved longitudinally within the guides 10, the `upper run of the sprocket chain 23 may yield upwardly and downwardly, as necessary, due to the vertical motion of the idler 21 within the guide 22.. In this manner, shaft 8 will be continually driven from the the longitudinal position of the shaft 8 whenvthe brush 7 is moved into and out of'operative. position relativeto the companion brush 6.

Standards 26 `.embodying bars bent into arch-like form, are secured upon the sides of the frame 1 directly inrear of the guides) 10 and over the bearings 5. Strips 27 are secured to the inner sides of the limbs of the standards 26 at the opposite sides of the machine, and brushes 28 Afor scrubbing ory brushing the ends of the egg, are secured to the inner sides ofthe strips 27 and coperate with the sides of the rotary brushes .61

and 7 Vto hold the egg between the rotary brushes, and to also contact with the end sv of the egg.

A mechanism is provided for automatically retracting the. rotary brush 7 away the brush y being provided with from the rotary brush 6, for the purpose of releasing the egg held between the said brushes, and to this end a relatively small ypinion or spur gear 29 is keyed or secured upon ythat end of the counter shaft 25 remote from the sprocket wheel 24, the pinion 29 intermeshing with a relatively large spur gear 30 keyed upon the corresponding en of a transverse cam shaft 31 journaled to the corresponding end of the framel adjacent the counter shaft 25. Mounted upon the intermediate portion of the cam shaft .31 is a cam or wiper arm 32 which coperates with the lower end of'a lever 33. The lever between its ends, a

33 has secured thereto,

spring 34 which is flexible vmember or leaf pivoted or fulcrumed to the frame 1, to thereby fulcrum the lever 33 to the frame with the lower end or arm of the lever cooperating with the cam or wiper arm 32 The resilient member or spring 34 is preferably fulcrumed to the frame by means-of a transverse rock shaft 35 terminally jour.- naled to the sides of the frame.

The counter shaft 25 being rotated with the brush shafts 4 and 8, and the relatively small pinion 29 of the counter shaft 25 intermeshing withl the relatively large spur gear 30 of the cam shaft 31, will cause the cam shaft to be rotated at a relatively slow velocity, to insure of the. proper timing of the brush-retracting device. The upper end or arm of the retracting lever 33 is operatively connected to the brush shaft 8, through the medium of a pair of links 36 which are pivoted to the upper end of the lever 33 and which are loosely connected to the shaft 8 between the opposite sides of the brush 7 and the bearings orslides 9.- Thus, the cam or wiper arm 32, which is rotated counter-clockwise, as seen in Fig. 2, is arranged to swing against and wipe'along the lower arm of the lever 33, and to's'wing the upper arm of the saidv lever rearwardly, as seen in Fig. 4, at predetermined intervals.

' The rotary'brush 7, which is mounted for reciprocatoryv movement, and-which is. intermittently retracted from the brush 6, is normally held in coperative relation with the brush 6, by means of a pair of retractile springs 36 terminally connected to the brush shafts 4 and 8 between the respective brushes and the.corresponding bearings 5 and 9. -Thus, when the lever 33 is released, the brush 7 willbe returned to initialor operative condition, through the influence of the springs 36', the springs 36 yielding' when-the lever 33 is swung by the cam vor wiper arm 32.

` Thebrush 6 is supplied with moisture, by means of a tube 37 connected to the water supply pipe 13 o-f the motor 12, the free end of the tube 37 overhanging the brush 6 and a suitable controlling valve 38. It is to be noted, in this connection, that that portion of the brush 6 adjacent the brush 7 moves downwardly, whereby the moisture or water will be carried immediately to the coperating portions of the brushes. It is to e noted in this connection, that the brush 71'otates clockwise as seen in Fig. 2, whereby that portion of the brush 7 adjacent the brush 6, will move upwardly, the brushes 6 and .7 rotating in the same direction, whereby their adjacent or coperating portions will move in opposite directions to roll the egge about its major axis simultaneously with the brushing of the sides of the egg, which is held between the brushes 6 and 7.

The device for supplying the washing powder to the egg, embodies a Washing powder bin or receptacle 39 mounted between the upper ends of the sideH standards 26, and having a hopper bottom 40 dis` posed immediately above the adjacent portions of the brushes 6 and 7. A. concaved sieve or screen 41 is mounted within the bin or shell 39, andY a transverse beater shaft 42 is journaled through the sides of the bin 39, in the manner of an ordinary flour sifter, a beater arm or arms 43 being mounted upon the shaft 42 within the bin 39 and being adapted to wipe or move along the sieve 41 for causing the washing powder disposed within the bin 39 to sift or` gravitate through the sieve 41.

The agitating or beater shaft 42 is rotated at predetermined intervals, and to this end a sprocket wheel 44 is keyed or secured upon one end of the shaft 42, and a similar sprocket wheel 44 is keyed upon a stub shaft 45 journaled to one side of the frame 1, an endless sprocket chain 46 being trained over the sprocket wheels 44 and 44. A relatively large spur gear 47 is also keyed upon the stub shaft 45, and is arranged to ordinarily intermesh with a vrelatively small gear or pinion 48 keyed upon that end of the brush shaft 8 remote from the sprocket wheel 20. Thus, when the brush 7 is in operative or initial position, the spur gear or pinion 48 o-f the brush shaft 8 will intermesh with the spur gear 47 to rotate the agitating or beater shaft 42 of the washing powder applying device. When the shaft 8 is moved rearwardly, however, the pinion 'or spur gear 48 will be disengaged from the spur gear 47, and consequently the movement of the shaft 42 will be stopped, as

soon as the brush 7 is retracted from the brush 6, to prevent a waste of the washing powder. 7 are in coperativerelation, thewashing powder-applying device will be brought into action, for dropping a charge or a predetermined number of charges of washing powder upon the egg held'.` between the brushes 6 and 7.

Disposed within the tank 2 isa transf Thus, when the brushes 6 and versely curved and inclined screen 49, which is suspended in any suitable manner within the tank 2, and which serves as a false bottom or basket for catching the eggs dropped into the rinsing tank from between the brushes 6 and 7, and to cause the eggs to roll downward toward and into the upright elevator portion 3 of the rinsing tank. The screen 49 is sufficiently flexible or yieldable to prevent injury to the eggs, it being apparent that the water within the rinsing tank will serve to cushion the eggs as they are dropped from the brushes 6 and 7.

The tank 2 is provided with a drain. outlet 50 at one end, for permitting the rinsing water to be. discharged', and to maintain the level of the rinsing water at the proper point, as seen in Fig.` 2.

The elevator for raising or conveying the eggs outof the rinsing tank, is mounted within the upright portion 3 of the rinsing tank, and embodies upper and lo-Wer trans-v verse shafts 51 and 52, respectively, Ajournaled thro-ugh the sides of the upright portion 3 of the rinsing tank. Pairs of sprocket wheels 53 are keyed or secured upon the shafts 51 and 52, and endless sprocket chains 54 arev trained over the upper and lower sprocket wheels 53, and have secured thereto, a series of meshed wire buckets or,re. ceptacles 55 which are coperable with the lower end o-f the screen or chute 49.

The elevator is actuated by means of ay relatively large sprocket wheel 56 keyed upon one end of the upper shaft 51 and hav-' ing an endless sprocket chain 57 trained thereo'ver, the sprocket chain 57 being trained over a relatively small sprocket wheel 58 upon the cam shaft 31 adjacentthe gear 30. In this manner, the elevator will be actuated at the proper velocity, for the purposes, those runs of the elevator chains 54 adjacent the screen or chute 49, moving upwardly to carry the buckets 55 in the proper direction.l The. buckets willthus be moved upwardly along the lower or discharge end of the screen or chute 49-for catching eggs delivered from the screen or chute 49 and conducting the eggs upwardly out of the rinsing water whereby the eggs will be discharged from the buckets 55 as they move over the up er sprocket wheels 53, the eggs coperative relation, an egg is deposited 4 therebetween, and will be supported thereby due to the factthat the adjacent portions of the brushes are relatively close together.

I' 33 and released the be-returned. to operative 'positiontby the reand foreign matter,

' fore be deposited lightly Ther egg will have .its major axis disposed egg will engage 'served that the handling tirely automati 4from the time the eggs are deposited between the brushes, to the time the eggs are takenl from the elevator.- 'Ihe various devices are also properly timed, to insure of the proper coperation between the various devices, for properly carrying out -the desired functions.

Having thus described the invention, claimed as new is zl. In a machine of the character described, coperating brushes adapted to hold an article to be brushed therebetween, means for intermittently separat'ng the brushes, and actuating means connectedito'the said brushes and the said means.

2. In a machine of the scribed,'a pair of brushes adapted to hold an article to be cleaned therebetween, one brush being slidably mounted to move to and from the other brush, retracting means operatively connected to the slidably mounted brush, and actuating means operatively transversely, in order that the endsof the the stationary brushes 28 for brushing or cleaning the ends of the egg. -The adjacent portions of the 'rotary brushes 6 and 7, moving in opposite directions, will turn or roll the egg whereby all sides of the egg will be thoroughly brushed or scrubbed. As the .egg is'being brushed, water will be v applied to the brushes 6 and 7 and to the egg, by the tube 37, as above indicated, and a quantity of the washing powder will also be applied to the adjacent portions 'of the brushes 6 and 7 and tothe egg, due to the actuation ofthe agitator or beater 43 when the brush 7 is in operative or normal condition, as above pointed out.

After the brushes 6 and 7 have rotated la predetermined number of revolutions, the cam or wiper arm 32 having moved through one revolution, will cause the brush 7 to be retracted from the brush 6, to drop the egg into the rinsing tank automatically. This result is due from the fact that the cam or wiper arm 32 in rotating once for every predetermined number of revolutions ot the brushes 6 and 7, will intermittently engage the retracting lever 33 so as to draw the brush 7 away from the brush 6 against the tension of the returning springs 36. Simultaneously with the retraction of the brush 7'; the washing powder applying'device will be brought to idle condition, due to the dis- `what tracting means. p

3. In a machine of the character described, coperable brushes, one brush being movable to and from the other, a retracting lever operably connected Ato the said movable brushyand a rotary cam coperable with the said lever for interm'ttently retracting the niovably mounted brush from brush.

engagement of the pinion 48 from the spur 4. In a macJine of the character de gear 47, as above described, As soon as the scribed, cooperating brushes, one brush being slidable to and from the other, a lretracting lever operatively connected to the slidably mounted brush, a rotary'cam cocam or wiper arm 42 has passed the lever same, the brush 7 will turning springs 36', as will be obvlous. The next or succeeding egg is then dropped between the brushes 6 and 7 in which event thel foregoing operation will be repeated or resumed. As the eggs are dropped, one `at a time, into the rinsing 'tank 2, they will be rinsed, to free them of the washing powder, suds the gravitation of the eggs to the bottom of the rinsing tank, being retarded by the water which serves as a cushion for the eggs. rlhe eggs will 4thereupon ,the chute or roll down the chute toward the elevator. lThe buckets 55 of the elevator being moved upwardlyalongthedischarge end of the chute 49 will catch the `eggs. as they are discharged one at a time tently retract the slidably mounted brush from the other operatively connected to the brushes and to the said cam.

5. In -a machine of the character described, a pair of rotary brushes, one o the brushes being mounted to move to and from the other, means for intermittently retracting the movably mounted brush from the other brush, and actuating means operably connected to the brushes for continually rotating them.

. 6. In a machine of the character described, coperable rotary brushes, one brush being mounted for movement to and from the other brush, a retracting device operably connected to the movably4 mounted screen 49 and will Jfrom the chute 49'and-'w'illconvey; the eggs brush, and actuating means including a upwardly out of the rinsing water where flexible connection between the brushesand they may be readily caught or removed by operably `connected to the said retracting hand and applied to adrying table or rack device. I

7. In' almachine of' scribed, alpair of coperable rotary brushes, one brush having a shaft mounted for sliding movements to and from the other brush, a retracting lever operably connected to the (not shown).

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the' drawings, the advantages and capabilitiesof the `presentapparatus will be obvous to those'versed in the art, it being ob'- of the eggs is enconnected to the brushes and to the said `re-y the other operating with the said lever to intermitf brush, and actuating means character dev 12.5* the' character del the said lever f said shaft, and a rotary cam coperable with r intermittently retracting the said shaft.

8. In a machine of the character/described, a pair of coperable rotary brushes, one brush having a shaft mounted for movement to and from the other brush, a retracting lever, links connecting the said lever and the said shaft, and a cam mounted for rotary movement and coperable with the said lever.

9. In a machine of the character described, a pair of coperable rotary brushes, one brush being mounted for movement to and from the other, yieldable means for holding the movably mounted brush in cooperative relation with the other brush, a retracting device operably connected to the movably mounted brush, and actuating means operably connected to the said retracting device and including a liexible connection between the said brushes.

10. In a machine of the character described, coperable separable brushes, means for separating theA brushes, a Washing powder applying device mounted above the brushes, actuating means for the brushes, and means for operably connecting and disconnecting the said applying device to and from the actuating means respectively, when the brushes are in coperative and separated positions.

In a machine of the character described, coperable rotary brushes, one brush being mounted for movement to and from the other brush, retracting means operably connected to the movably mounted brush, actuating means operably connected to the retracting means and including a flexible connection between the brushes, a washing powder applying device mounted above the adjacent portions of the brushes, and means for operably' connecting and disconnecting the said applying device to and from the movably mounted brush, respectively, When the movably mounted brush is in coperation with the other brush and retracted therefrom, respectively.

In testimonythatl I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.-

WILLIAM A. BRANDT. Witnesses VCLARA A. J oNEs, E.- M. NORTON. 

